Switch mechanism



Patented Sept. 7, 1.926.

NUNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HENRY DAVIS, fOF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

swrirc'n MCHANISM.

Appicaan nica :une 14, 1923. serial No. 645,384.

This invention hasfor its object to provide a certain lnewl and usefulmeans for controlling the operation of a stop, start, back and turntraflic signal for use on automobiles and motor vehicles; and itespecially has for its object to provideal lever operated meansmechanically acting to set the signal to either `ot its positions and atthe same time permit control of the sounding of a horn or other audiblevsignal and the illumination of an electric light in coopera tion withthe traffic signal at the will of the operator.

More spccilicallyk the invention resides in the provision of a signalsetting switch device adapted to be mounted on the steering wheel postof a motor vehicle and which in cludes a signal actuating shaft with theoperating lever that also functions as the circuit closing device forthe audible and y light signals.

The present application is a continuationy Figure 3v is an inverted planview of thek removed upper plate. y y

Figure 4 is a central vertical lon Yitudinal section of the mechanismshown in `igure 1. .Figure 5 is a detailed vertical section on the line5-5 on Figure r1. .y y

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuit arrangements`and connections between the traffic signal andthe operating switch.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatical view ot the mechanical connections betweenthe traffic signal drum and the operating shaft of the actuatingmechanism. n

In the drawingin which like numerals of reference indicate like' partsin all of the figures, 1 represents the1 lower plate of the actuatingmechanism, the same being provided with ears 2 by means of which it maybe secured to the clamp ears 3 of the clamp l which is formed tocooperate with the lower plate 1 and the upper plate 22 to provide "anopening 5 for the steering post 53 of the vehicle on which it may beclamped by suitable screws or bolts (not shown) passed through the ears23e-23.

The plate 1 carries terminal posts y6 and 7 which are countersunk belowthe top face of the plate 1 (see .Figure 5) and to which the terminalwires 51 and 52 from the light 4:7 and audible signal 4.6 are connected,the otl'icr terminals of those signals being connected by wires 50 toone side of the battery 48, the other side of which is connected by awire 49 to a tern'iinal post 21 carried by lhc conductor plate 16, whichis countersunk flush with the top .tace of the plate 1 It should beunderstood that the plate 1 is made of suitable insulating material aswood, for example. The plate 1 is bored at 8 and hushed at 9 t0 form abearing for the shaft 10 which is held in place by collars 11 andcarries a head 12 with ears 13 between which the operating lever-,ishinged at 14.

The plate 16 carries four upstanding contact posts 17, 18, 19 and 20,respectively arranged in the arc of a circle having the shaft 1() as itscenter.

`22 is the upper plate which is also made of insulating material and isbored at 54 and bushed at 24 to form a bearing for the shaft 10. Thisplate 22 carries two conductor plates 25 having tapped enlargements 2.7for the screws 28, `the latter having wings 29 by which they may beturned down or up to contact or not contact the terminal posts 6 and Tpfor lpurposes presently explained. The plates 25 also `have tappedenlargements 3() for the screw' posts 31 on which the Contact plate 32is mounted 'for movement up and down against the tension of coil springs34 on the screw posts 31A. A coil spring 35 is also provided midway therends ot the platey 32 to pre-ss it up and keep it in contact with thecontact 'nger 3S of the operating lever The lever 15 also has a contactfinger 37` to cooperate with thc con tact posts 17 to 20, inclusive, andto engage a dummy or dead contact post 36 in the midposition of thelever, .if desired. The posi. 36 `is secured in the upper plate2. y

I The :Contact plate 32 `is provided with stops 33 to limit the sidewisemovemei'it of the lever 38.

Screws 26 may be provided for securing the plates Q5 to the plate 22 andthe plates l and 2Q may be secured 'together by screws 39, as indicated.

IThe upper' plate has holes l() to permit the contact posts lT to 20,inclusive, to project up into cooperative relation to the contactlinfler 3T similarly to the position ot the post 3o.

Mounted on the shatt lo, at a suitable place, is a rocking lever ll, theends ot which are connected to the ends ot a wire ll which passesthrough a duct 42 and around the shear-e ot the trailic signal drum il(see nijf original application, etc., for details ot constructionthereof) whereby when the lever lo is moved from the position shown inFigure l right or lett, as the case may be, the drum lll will becorrespondingly turned, to bring; the proper visible signal intoposition for view.

ln the practical operation ot my invention when it desired to turn rightor lett, back or stop, the operator moves the lever l5 to the lett orright, as the case, inay be. in alignment with one or anotller ot thecontact posts 1T to Qt), ii'lclusive, and at the saine time, bypressing' down on the lever l5. he closes the circuit from plate 232 vialingers 3C-2l? to the proper contact posts 1T, 18, l) or 2t) to pern'liteneraization ot the horn t6 and light il?, assuming', of coiu'se, thatthe screws i8 are screwed down into contact with the terminal post 6. lnthe day time, when the light 4T is not to be used, the screw 28 at thelett in lligrure l is unscrewcd ''roin contact with its teriliinal post(l, tllus breaking the light circuit. It it is desired to omit the hornoperation the othe;l screw 28 is unscrewed to break the circuit.

From the foregoing, it will be seen tllat with a single turn, the userot' my invention can set the traliic signal at the desired indication,and at the saine time, and with practically the sanle operation, can, atwill, cause the sounding ot the horn and or the lighting` ot theilluminating;` instrumentality l-T. ln other words. it only i'equiresthe one hand ot the operator to et'fect the desired signal indi ation inthe trallic signal and sound the horn or light the light, or both, asthe case may be.

From the foregoing, taken in connection witll vthe accompanying'drawing, it is thought the coil'lplete construction. operation andadvantages oll my invention will be readily understood by those skilledin the art.

l. A switch unit comprising a base consisting` ot two insulatiim`sections placed one on top of the other, a common conductor plate on thetop of the bottoni section, a series of contacts on the top section withportions to engage said common conduttor plate when said base sectionsare assenibled, an arcuate contact plate, spring means tor mounting saidarcuate contact plate on top of said top base section, lever stops atthe ends of said arcuate plate, a sha'l't 'journalled in a bearing insaid base, aild an articulatable level' secured to said shaft to turn iton its axis, said lever having a portion adapted to be moved up and downand having a contact lug in engagen'icnt with the top ol said arcuateplate aild another contact lugaj adapted to cooperate with said seriesot contacts.

2. A switch unit coillprising a base consistingll of two insulatingsections placed one on top ot' the other, a conlillon conductor plate onthe top of the bottom section, a series of cont-acts on the top sectionwith portions to engage said conln'lon conductor plate wllen said hasesections are assembled. an arcuate contact plate, spring,r meansl tormounting said arcuate contact plate on top of said top base section.lever stops at the ends of said arcuate plate, a shaft jonrnalled in abearing' in said base, an articulatable lever secured to said sha'lt toturn it on its axis, said lever havincr a portion adapted to be moved upand down and having a contact lug in engagement with the top of saidarcuate plate and another contact lugv adapted to cooperate with saidseries of contacts,aeircuit terminal mounted on the bottom basesect-ion, a circuit terminal mounted on the top base section, saidcircuit terniiilal of the top base section beint,r connected to saidarcuate plate and a contact make and break screw carried by said circuitterminal of the top base section tor cooperation with saidy circuitterillinal of the bottom base section for the purposes specilied.

3. A switch coi'nprising a base, a shaft journalled in said base, alever mounted thereon said lever adapted to be nloved troni right tolett with said shaft as an axis, a set ot contact posts on the basebeneath said level', a contact plate yicldably nlounted on the base toengage said lever, means tor pressingY said plate to hold said levernormally out ot engagement with said contact posts, circuit terminalposts on said base, means connectingr one ot said terminal posts witheach ot said contact posts, and another means tor connecting,r the otherterminal post with said contact plate, said other means includingcircuit opening and closing elements mounted on thel base independentlyot' the lever.

GEORGE HENRY DAVIS.

